BACKGROUND: Postoperative pancreatic fistulas (POPFs) due to anastomotic leaks are always closely related to significant morbidity and mortality following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). A series of modified anastomotic methods have been proposed. The object of our study was to provide a novel anastomotic method for operations involving the Child technique, termed the “whole-layer tightly appressed anastomosis technique”.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: An improved pancreatic whole-layer suture technique was used when we performed the duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomies; this method ensured the tight joining of the pancreatic stump and jejunum and decreased the pinholes in the pancreatic stump. This new method was used in 41 patients, and was compared with the traditional duct-to-mucosa anastomosis technique that was used in 50 patients as controls.

RESULTS: The POPF rate was much lower in the new method group than in the control group (6, 14.63% and 20, 40.00%, respectively, P=0.010). There were 5 grade A POPF patients and 1 grade B POPF patient in the study group. In the control group there were 12 grade A POPFs patients, 7 grade B POPFs patients, and 1 grade C POPF patient. The study group exhibited a lower morbidity rate (7, 17.07% vs. 16, 32.00%, P=0.022) and a reduced hospital stay (17.16 d vs. 22.92 d, P=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The whole-layer tightly appressed anastomosis technique presented in our study is a safer anastomotic method than the traditional duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy technique. This new technique effectively reduced the incidence of POPF after PD and decreased the postoperative morbidity.

Keywords: Anastomosis, Surgical - methods, Incidence, Intraoperative Care, Logistic Models, Morbidity, Mucous Membrane - surgery, Pancreatic Ducts - surgery, Pancreatic Fistula - surgery, Pancreaticoduodenectomy - methods, Pancreaticojejunostomy - methods, Postoperative Care, Postoperative Complications - etiology, Risk Factors